Show Critique:

My thanks to the officers & committee for their invitation & hospitality , I thoroughly enjoyed my day with them , the border folk & their dogs .Thanks too to my stewards for the day who kept the ring running smoothly . It is 28 years since I attended my 1st YLCBTC Ch show , watching Ch Dandyhow Crofter gain his title & Ch Thistycroft Candlelight take top honours . I remember clearly the heavy fall Ted Hutchinson had due to lack of mats , thankfully no-one slipped today , though some dogs did.
For me the most important sentence is ˜essentially a working terrier” I fully appreciate a gorgeous otter head & all breed details , but the common factor of all terriers pedigree & crossbreed who go to ground is that they are narrow fronted & eminently spannable , having a flat rib, this is a flattish egg shape , never slab-sided , well sprung nor barrel chested , all equally faulty in a Border . If the frame is too big by being either too deep &/or sprung they will get stuck & die underground as not all places are diggable . I was taught they should resemble a lightweight hunter , legs slightly longer than depth of body & ˜fairly long in body”, i.e. longer wither to end of loin than wither to elbow with no trace of brisket below elbow . These essentials plus positive straight scopy movement were uppermost today . I have no colour prejudice nor pedigree preference at all.
Temperaments were excellent in the ring with only a couple of “outbursts” from outside, a must for a working terrier is an equable nature . All males were entire . A few misplaced teeth & tail faults which would not affect work but do pass on to progeny . Untypical round eyes often too close together are prone to damage & ulceration working , & give a surprised foreign look rather than kind in repose & keen when alert correct expression . Quite a few ran down to the shoulders being either short in foreleg &/or steep in croup . Was pleased my winners have enough scope & soundness to get there & handled well enough in rib & front to be able to get in & more importantly , back out again.

Results

Minor Puppy - Dog

no false start here ! Blue/tan of almost 9m . Masculine otter head , skull long & flat , powerful muzzle & underjaw with big gnashers , has a well placed dark eye of lovely shape & super expression framed by well set v-shape ears .. Built on scopy narrow lines with well balanced length of bones throughout . Is an ideal size with medium bone & deep tight feet . Dense double coat with silver just starting to come through .Ultra sound , the further he went the better he got , particularly driving well from behind with hocks above feet . In the challenge pulled out all the stops & sailed round showing his heart out , despite my aversion to giving puppies top honours as they cannot have finish. I really could not deny him today . RCC & BPIS.

rich grizzle & tan of 7m , taller than 1 & doesn’t want to grow on . Bit shorter in skull with a slightly rounder eye than winner . Well balanced & narrow with an easy stride in good double coat & loose pelt . Beat a nicely made 6m baby who I also liked but was a bit unsettled today.

Lovely type who I thought would be my winner standing . Excellent otter head , lovely eye & expression . Narrow bodylines & came to hand well on the table being easily spanned & balanced . Although totally out of top coat has a deep undercoat & loose pelt .Having seen him move very freely before , was surprised he moved with such a short flat footed stride , lacking activity . Accurate coming & going . Perhaps the floor put him off & he will come into his own on grass.

12m light grizzle with masculine otter head , dark eye & big teeth , with similar balance of outline , though a little more open in front angulation than winner . Deep double coat of good texture & thick pelt . Moved straight , but didn’t seem to be enjoying himself .

Yearling - Dog

Tall,13m light grizzle with quality & type .Loved his masculine outlook . Head is ottery with longer than broad flat skull , well placed dark kind eye , little stop & powerful foreface with big teeth & strong underjaw . Nice neck into clean narrow shoulders , well off for bone into excellent deep feet . Flat rib carried well back into strong loin . Well angulated hindquarters with defined second thigh. Has an exceptionally good coat, deep & harsh topcoat with lose deep undercoat thus his pelt is thick , loose & pliant . It makes him look heavier than he picks up. Moved extremely well keeping the same outline as when stood , totally accurate coming & going , he took my eye in the challenge when he lengthened his stride & flowed round with style . DCC & BOS. I see from catalogue is litter brother to winner of JB , what a fortunate breeder .

Rangy red of 18m . Head looks plain due to lack of furnishings , but is proportioned well with good eye & bite. Lengthy neck , equally well angulated throughout with good shape & length to rib . Not quite as positive nor stylish on the move as winner . Has good texture deep coat with thick skin .

Post Graduate - Dog

Unsure of his age as according to catalogue is only 6 weeks ! Obviously not , think his owner said he is 6 . Grizzle with lovely balanced outline of ideal size & weight . Has flat skull & little stop , his higher set rounder ears & harsh eye mar his expression , but are of little consequence to a fox ! Lovely neck into superb shoulders, clean , long , laid back & properly placed back on the body , good return of upper arm . Super narrow body shape & length , well coupled , good length to croup & well set if a little long tail . He is easy to span & moved well in all directions . Coat could be deeper & pelt thicker . Considered him in the challenge , but he wasn’t putting anything in & lost his topline going round.

Top size masculine rangier light grizzle of 3 . Powerful head with good length of skull , kind dark eye & big teeth a shade heavy in ear. Narrow shoulders , straight bone & good feet . Good length of rib , racy hind angulation with well set longer tail . Needs a larger ring or to be out on grass as he moved with pistoning front action & very wide behind today as though overly contained .

Open - Dog

Top size masculine grizzle of 6 . Well proportioned otter head with good flat skull , nice shape dark eye & good bite . Ears a shade heavy but well set , muzzle , underjaw & teeth are strong & I loved his big nose leather . Fabulous reach of neck seldom seen nowadays , long clean well placed shoulder & enough upper arm . Medium bone into deep feet , has a good rib shape , which enables a narrow front , just a shade long in loin . Well angulated racy hindquarter with clean hock well let down . superb deep double coat & a truly loose thick pelt which contributes to his thick rooted well set tail .Think he could do a days work .Only just did enough to win this class when he moved true & with a long stride , then he insisted on pacing & standing rocking horse style in the challenge ,despite every chance. Very frustrating !

Handy size grizzle of 22 months . Nicely balanced head & good bite , medium neck ,narrow front , straight bone & good feet . Lithe easy span body of good shape . Not quite as long boned throughout as winner , but both ends are equally angulated & he is well knit together .He moves with an active long stride completely accurately keeping the same outline as when stood . Totally out of coat today , he looked a little “raw” . Beat a beautiful headed dog on slightly flatter easier to span ribs & more co-ordinated movement .

9yrs handy size dark grizzle of quality & good type .Love his outline, neck & shoulder , is light framed & within standard for weight , though I thought him a shade pinched today . In good coat with loose pelt , not as positive moving as winner .

another of only 6 months , bl/t this time , in super condition i’ am not a fan of thin puppies while they are still growing .Quality head of good proportions with little stop .Nicely balanced outline , but not quite as well ribbed up nor narrow as winner . Moved out well behind , needs to tighten in front .Excellent double coat in texture , depth & colour , loose thick pelt.

Puppy - Bitch

Elegant 9m grizzle of top size . Good otter head with flat skull strong jaw & well placed dark eye of good shape . Very balanced in outline , with good neck , clean shoulders , straight front & good feet . Good body shape , well ribbed up.Strong hindquarters with good second thigh which propelled her on a long accurate rhythmic stride . In double coat on the blow , but of good texture . BPB

Similar stamp & outline with excellent angulation both in front & hindquarters . Feminine head eye & expression , good bite. Moved better in this class , but not as confident as 1 which affects her front & outline. Her coat & pelt are excellent .

Limit - Bitch

top size grizzle & tan of 3yrs with good outline & balance . Shade doggy in head , being too broad in skull for its length ,with slightly light eye , powerful muzzle & big teeth , well set neat v-shaped ears . Good length of neck flows into clean well placed shoulders , straight bone into fabulous deep tight feet .Rib of good length & shape, has a strong deep loin so good underline with no cut up . Good width well muscled hindquarters propel her with drive . Was on top form in deep double coat & thick loose pelt very well presented ,ground covering accurate & effortless action in all directions , showed with enthusiasm .

another top size grizzle , preferred her head â€“ good length of flat skull , nicely placed eye & ears & feminine expression . Not quite the flow of neck through wither , though her shoulders are narrow .Good straight legs , feet lack depth .Good rib shape with firm backline, not so deep in loin so underline is less gradual. Firm well angulated hindquarters . Coat was just coming in , but lacked the depth & pelt of winner..Moved soundly in all directions if a little dour . Beat a good bitch who was very unsettled on the flooring .

Special Beginners - Bitch

bl/t of just 6m . Obviously very immature , smaller baby , Head is feminine , bit short in skull, eye a shade round . Neat bodylines , little short in bones throughout , but has knuckle so is still growing . Lovely outgoing temperament , thoroughly enjoying herself . Would hope she grows on . Moved well behind , rather erratically in front .